TOPIC 5

Fuel and Lube Oil

Physical Properties
Discuss the
different physical
properties of fuel
oil and lube oil
used on board
vessels

LEARNING OBJECTIVE 2.1

 • Fuel oil was introduced
in Pennsylvania by
Colonel Drake who

Introduction to began the first drilling

1859. In the years
industrialization, a new

fuel and industry established:

“The Standard Oil
Company” by

lubricants Rockefeller in 1870. In

those years, the
extracted kerosene
from the crude oil was
considered as the most
important product
mainly used as
illuminating oil.
 • Among the places
were fuel can be
found are the

Introduction to
following: in Texas
where the found are
said to have asphaltic
fuel and base; crude oils very
often contain large

lubricants amounts of asphalt;

fuel on which has a
paraffinic base can be
found in the Middle
East; oils are
particularly found in
Indonesia are rich in
volatile components.
• The first method of refining the fuel oil
was distillation. In the distillation process,
it was found out that it will carry some of
‘good quality’ of fuel oil. A secondary
refining process was introduced in the
modern refinery to maintain the good
quality of fuel oil.
 Crude 1. Paraffin base in which
petroleum residue after distillations
contains more than 5%
can be paraffin wax.
classified
into three: 2. Asphalt base in which after
distillation contains less than
2% paraffin wax and is mainly
composed of asphalt
(bitumen)
3.Mixed base in which after
distillations contains between
2% and 5% paraffin wax mixed
intimately with asphalt.
 • Density ( p )
Storage is often based
on volume and some
correlation such as

Properties of density for the mass

to volume

Fuel oil and

relationship is
required. This is
important for bunker
lubricating oils capacities, choice of
heating
arrangement,
injectors, purifier etc.

Density(p) = Mass(m)
Volume(v)
The units are usually expressed in Viscosity
kg/m3 with fresh water being 1000
kg/m3. Density is taken by
hydrometer.

Viscosity may be defined as the

resistance of fluids to change of
shape, being due to the internal
molecular friction of molecule with
molecule of the fluid producing the
frictional drag effect.
Viscosity is the resistance of liquid to flow and expressed by using
kinematics viscosity @ 50’c with unit of centistoke (cSt). Since viscosity
decreases as temperature rises, Oil should be heated until an appropriate
viscosity is obtained. Heating the oil above its flash point may cause fire
or a quality of oil changed. The heating temperature required to obtain
the appropriate viscosities are determined from viscosity-temperature
chart.
1. Excessive Viscosity
a. suction of fuel pumps worsen
b. Impurities are hard to separate
c. Without increasing an injection pressure, atomization worsens and incomplete combustion takes place
2. Inadequate viscosity
a. Fuel oil consumption rate increases due to the increased intake from various parts.
b. Seizure or extraordinary wear takes place due to the decrease in lubricating actionin an injection valve
or the lapping section of a fuel pump
c. Even if atomizing conditions are good during injection, penetration is poor, which causes poor
distribution and incomplete combustion.
Flashpoint • This is the minimum temperature at
which an oil gives off flammable vapour,
which on the application of a flame in
specified apparatus would cause
momentary ignition.
• The test may be open or closed
depending on whether the apparatus is
sealed or not.
 • Oils with flash point

Some aspects below 22’c are

classified as
dangerous – highly
relating to oil and flammable, such as
gasolines, benzenes
the use of closed etc.
• Flash point in the
flashpoint may be range 22-66’c would
relate to kerosenes
considered as and vaporising oils.
• Flash points above
follows 66’c are classified as
safe (for marine
purposes) and include
gas, diesel and fuel
oils.
Approximate
closed
flashpoint Pentane - 49’c Petrol -17’c
values for
different Oils Carbon disulphide Paraffin 25’c
-30’c
Acetone 18’c Diesel oil 95’c
Benzene -11’c Heavy Fuel oil
100’c
Methanol 10’c
Lubricating oil
230’c
 • This is the heating value from
the complete combustion of
unit mass of fuel, that is ,
MJ/kg, KJ/Kg. Bomb
calorimeter is used to
measure calorific value.

Calorific Value • Pour point

• This is the determination of
the lowest temperature value
at which oil will pour or flow
under the prescribed
condition.
 Carbon residue (Conradson
method)

The test is a means of determining

the residual carbon etc. when oil is
burned under specified condition.
Precaution on
board ship to Exercise Exercise the following caution when handling
and storing fuel oil.

avoid
accidental
ignition of oil Ensure Ensure that there no leaks from the manhole
covers or where valves are fitted

Do not Do not bring naked light close to inside of

tanks where gas is easily generated or
bring around air vent tubes.

Do not Do not keep accumulated oily bilge for a long

keep periods
 Ensure sufficient ventilation, as the heavy oil
Ensure gas is heavier than air and cause injury or
death

Measure
Measure and record oil temperatures and
and qualities everyday.
record

Ensure that the temperature of fuel does not

Ensure exceed closed flash point values.
 Caution in Lubricants must be correctly stored and
handled.
handling
lubricating If they are stored near a source, they may
become heated near to their flashpoint and
oil become explosion hazard.

Ideally, drums should not be stored on

deck unless they are covered or stored on
their side

Lubricants need to be stored and handled

in clean environment

Oil samples may be taken periodically from

the lubricants in use and sent away for
trends analysis to a laboratory ashore.